Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
From the Editor,
Contents
President’s Report Page 2
Happy Returns Page 3
Meeting Report Page 4
New Members Page 4
Bush Buddies Page 5
The Kitchen Page 5
Ruth’s Recipes Page 6
British Wildlife Page 7
Essential Information Page 8
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR JUNE 2020
Since our last newsletter, prepared in late February, COVID-19 has
wrought extraordinary changes to our way of life. We know that the
economic repercussions may be severe but what is less known at
the moment is the extent of future related mental health issues.
In regard to the latter, the importance of parks and gardens, such as Belair National Park, cannot be overstated. They provide a place for our spirits to roam free, untrammelled by the shock of recent events and our lingering doubts for the future.
-Tony Dyson
AUTUMN KANGAROOS : PHOTO MATT SAMPSON
2
President’s Report What an Autumn! What’s more I cannot claim any credit
for the excellent running of the ship over that period. I
wrote my last version of this report in the last week of
February and then promptly jumped on an aeroplane for
the holiday of a lifetime – more of that later. By mid-
March, the progress of Covid 19 had stunningly
changed billions of lives across the globe. The self-
isolation and social distancing regulations introduced
around then have meant that we have been unable to
carry out any bush care activities until the last week.
However, the autumn rain has resulted in luxuriant
growth in the Park. Weeds now pull out more easily and
the first Mosquito Orchids are flowering.
In my absence other members of the committee have,
amongst other things, been overseeing the renovations
to the Volunteer Centre. With no meetings taking place it
has been possible for the cupboard units and benchtops
in the meeting room to be replaced. The new units look
magnificent. All of the old units in the kitchen have also
been removed. However, the discovery of asbestos in
the ceiling has delayed further progress. Rafters are
visible above where the ceiling should be. Walls are
bare and show only empty channels for electricity con-
duits. All the new kitchen units occupy a big chunk of the
meeting room. In there they are accompanied by the
contents of the old cupboards just looking for a home.
Once the ceiling is replaced all will move very quickly.
Thanks to all of you who have actually been ‘hands –
on’ in all of this.
So how come a holiday took me away for three months?
26th Feb. Jenny and I flew to Santiago, Chile for a few
days with friends before going south to Ushuaia at the
bottom end of Argentina. Ushuaia is the world’s south-
ernmost city and the jumping off point for a trip to Ant-
arctica. The holiday of a lifetime. From 2nd
March for just
over 2 weeks we became David Attenborough. From our
icebreaker/cruise ship (just 190 passengers) we visited
the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia and landed
on both in several places from Zodiacs (heavy duty in-
flatable boats). We saw icebergs large (the size of KI)
and small. We saw whales blowing but not close to, at
least 4 species of seals and half a dozen species of
penguins. How about standing on a beach in the middle
of half a million King Penguins.
Jenny’s photos capture the “David Attenborough” expe-
rience.
Then stories of Covid being associated with cruise ships
reached the far south Atlantic. The one inhabited spot
on South Georgia refused us landing. We were uninfect-
ed but they were not prepared to take the risk. No wor-
ries, we just headed off for our next scheduled stop –
the Falklands. Another refusal. At this point, having seen
90% of the intended locations we set course for our dis-
embarkation port, Puerto Madryn about half way up Ar-
gentina. Also, no admittance. Ushuaia our port of origin
refused our requests to return.
We steamed north to the River Plate estuary intending
to land at Buenos Aires and connect with a charter flight
home. Standard flights were being cancelled wholesale
across the world and many airports were already closed.
We remained off-shore for 4 days and were eventually
refused entry. Fortunately, Montevideo, Uruguay across
the estuary allowed us to come alongside. 9 days later
after finding flights home for all non-ANZ passengers the
remaining 133 of us boarded our chartered Boeing 787
wide bodied jet – Montevideo – Santiago, Santiago –
Sydney. How often do you become part of a 133-person
consortium that buys a 260-seater jet for the day! Don’t
ask about the money!
Then two weeks in Sydney isolated to one room, meals
left at the door. Followed by 14 days isolation here at
home. Final release from incarceration 1st May.
Holiday of a lifetime? Absolutely! The final 6 weeks I
don’t need to go through again!
-Mark Pedlar
3
Many Happily Return!
The good news arrived on Thursday 14th May – a very welcome email from Duncan McKenzie, President of Friends
of Parks Inc., and John Schutz, Chief Executive DEW, forwarded by Gill Peacey, Manager Volunteer Programs.
COVID-19 restrictions have eased and we can return to group Bushcare!
For many of us our lives since our work in the Park was halted, on March 25th, have lacked something important.
Despite our willingness to follow social distancing requirements, wipe our tools with disinfectant and pay fastidious
attention to all personal hygiene, DEW deemed it unsafe for us to continue bushcare. Apart from a little discreet
weed-pulling on path edges as we walked individually for exercise in BNP, no more group bushcare could happen.
OK, many of us may fall into the “at risk” age group, but most of us felt the way we work regularly, some metres
apart, was very low risk. However our very caring senior management deemed it too risky, and wanting to protect
us (very valuable of course!) volunteers, decided to stop our bushcare sessions.
The Park has been extremely busy with visitors who were allowed under COVID-19 restrictions to exercise here,
close to home. Being able at least to visit and walk in beautiful BNP kept us sane (speaking personally)! Let us
hope that many of those people who came and enjoyed exercising in Belair appreciated the Park, and may even
decide to join our efforts to protect the natural environment.
Now we are back! On Friday 15th May some of us eagerly returned to continue bushcare in VMU 17. The third Sat-
urday of the month fell on the very next day, and our enthusiastic group, led by Pete, as a return-to-work treat, went
to the lovely VMU 39 to sweep for boneseed to maintain this special bush block. Regular sessions have resumed,
we have welcomed two new bushcarers, Mick and Chris, and we are all very happy to be enjoying the peace and
serenity of our pleasurable task, and each other’s (socially 1.5 metre distant) company!
The State-sanctioned “Road Map” to recovery allows Guided Walks to resume with groups of up to twenty (well-
behaved and socially distanced) people as from June 5th, so our Tuesday June 9
th and Sunday June 14
th walks will
happen. A lovely walk is planned, in Stringy-bark and Pink Gum woodland. Of course, to ensure we do not stretch
the limits and exceed the maximum of 20 people attending, we are asking people to pre-book if they would like to
come along. Ring me – Barb (for Tuesday) 8278 2370, or Pete (for Sunday) 0400 066 775, or the Park Office 8278
5477, to book your place.
-Barb Raine
Parson’s Band
orchid
(Eriochilus collinus)
4
Talks at Monthly Meetings
March : Olivia Macolino
Did you know that there are 1000s of satellites in the sky, and more being launched all the time? Some, called nanobots, are the size of a shoebox and are being used for conservation, agriculture and forestry.
These, combined with a rapidly emerging type of technology uses the ‘Internet of Things’ (all the ‘smart’ things and their interconnected-ness) to help researchers, farmers and conservationists alike.
This technology helps in various ways to monitor and assess progress, streamline management and make better use of on-ground resources for different projects. In a world of limited resources, it makes sense to ‘work smarter not harder’ and this is exactly what this technology is gearing us for.
Olivia Macolino, our guest speaker this afternoon, works in this burgeoning industry and gave us a fascinating insight into the future, using technology as an important adjunct to help direct our collective resources. It’s an im-portant, emerging field and was a fantastic presentation.
Thanks Olivia, I had no idea that the tech was so advanced, yet accessible. The future is here, people !
-Pete Raine
NEW MEMBERS
We extend a warm welcome to the following new members:
Dee Bilney-Nolan
Darcy Laete
Mick Ayer
Michael Holmes
Peter and Raechel Bos
5
Bush Buddies Reports
March
Great morning at Belair Bush Buddies this morning ! Our speaker, Sam Bywaters, gave a brilliant presentation about phenology - the seasonality of life-cycles in na-ture and the relationship between plants and climate change. It was a thoroughly interesting and engaging presentation about Sam's PhD research project, which is about little things, the 66 species of native orchids in Belair and their future. Thanks Sam, keep us updated as the project develops.
After a brief break, we took advantage of the glorious weather for a walk. What a great start to a Sunday
-Pete Raine
Photos : Jo Baulderstone
PROGRESS IN THE KITCHEN
Previously Serene but Dated Currently Chaotic but Hopeful
PHOTOS : CAROL PARROTT
6
Ruth’s Recipes
-supplied by Ruth Palmer
7
British Wildlife (Part 2 of 2)
-supplied by Anne Ross
8
THE FRIENDS OF BELAIR NATIONAL PARK INC.
Postal Address:- PO Box 2, BELAIR, SA 5052 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.communitywebs.org/friendsofbelairpark
Webmaster: [email protected] : Facebook: www.facebook.com/fobnp
OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2019 PRESIDENT Mark Pedlar 8278 1991 [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Mike Cerchez 8270 8870 [email protected] SECRETARY Tina Gallasch 8178 0688 [email protected] TREASURER Carol Parrott 8278 6783 [email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBERS James McGregor, Chris Lightowler, Barbara Raine, Tony Dyson
CO-ORDINATORS GUIDED WALKS for 2020 (Tuesday) Barbara Raine [email protected] DUPLICATE WALKS for 2020 (Sunday) Peter Raine [email protected] LIBRARIAN Aileen Ferris NEWSLETTER EDITOR Tony Dyson 0423 687 180 [email protected] FACE BOOK/PUBLICITY Hayley Prentice [email protected] SIGNIFICANT TREES Ron Tamblyn 8393 9803 VOL. CENTRE BOOKINGS Tina Gallasch 8178 0688 [email protected] MEMBERSHIP Carol Parrott 8278 6783 [email protected] WEBSITE Chris Lightowler [email protected] SPEAKERS Olivia Macolino [email protected] WORKING BEE COORDINATOR Barbara Raine 8278 2370 [email protected] WORKING BEES for Tuesday or Friday, Barbara Raine 8278 2370 [email protected]
BELAIR NATIONAL PARK (Put these numbers in your mobile): Belair National Park Office 8278 5477 After hours Emergency 0427 556 676 Guest Speakers Because of the uncertainty regarding general Meetings and social distancing, there is no definite date for resumption. You will be advised as soon as we can resume all our normal activities. FREE GUIDED WALKS Guided walks will resume Tuesday 9th June 2020 and replicated Sunday 14th June. Maximum 20 people,
and social distancing will be strictly observed.
Bookings essential. Call Barb Raine on 8278 2370.
Ask at the Park Ticket Office for your free entry, and meet at the Green Shed at 1.45 pm for a 2.00pm start. SPECIAL EVENTS
Professor Cleland Memorial Walk
2020 Prof Cleland Memorial Walk 2020 TBA.
October 2020: Belair NP is Park of the Month. Birthday Party Held on the 27th October—the date the Friends of Belair NP was formed. MONTHLY MEETINGS 2020/2021 All meetings are cancelled for the time being. A new resume date will be advised as soon as possible.
WORKING BEES Meet at the Green Shed (near Main Oval) BEFORE 8.30am Tuesday and Friday mornings. For information phone Barbara on 8278 2370 [email protected] Working Bees on other days, meet by arrangement. For 3
rd Saturday of each month at 9.00am meet at the
Green Shed.
Membership Payments
Annual renewal is $10 single, $15 for a family. If joining after 30th June, your first half year is discounted to half price, so please pay $5 for single, or $7.50 for joint membership. HOW TO PAY: 1. Pay the treasurer at a meeting 2. Forward payment and your contact details to The Treasurer Friends of Belair NP PO Box 413, Belair 5052 3. To pay by internet use this account information and email your contact information to [email protected] Bank SA: BSB 105-078: A/c No: 306250940 A/c Name:- Friends of Belair Park A/c Ref:- your name (membership fees)
